In the history of the Western Christian Church, the period of the Inquisition stands out. This was a time of fierce struggle of the Catholic Church with people expressing their dissent in religious doctrine, as well as with those who "had connections with demonic forces."
It is generally accepted that the Holy Inquisition of the Catholic Church, as a body responsible for the purity of religious doctrine and having the power to search for all unrighteous thinkers, existed from 1184 to 1834.
The history of the creation of the Holy Inquisition
The Christian Church from the very beginning of its existence was subjected to various false teachings that confused the mind and consciousness of the believing people. The concept of heresy arises as a teaching that contradicts the Holy Tradition of the Church. In heresies, the authority of the main truths of the Christian doctrine was questioned.
In order to fight against heretics and restore the triumph of orthodox Christianity, Ecumenical and Local Councils met. Later, after the division of the Churches in 1054, the West took a different path. Heresies still continued to exist, and there were more and more heretics. In order to fight the Catholic Church against false beliefs, a special church court was created to investigate the facts of the emergence of heresies.
In 1215, Pope Innocent III founded a special body of the ecclesiastical court called the "Holy Inquisition". Approximately the same time coincides with the creation of the Dominican order, which was charged with the responsibility of inquiring into matters of false beliefs in the Catholic Church.
The history of the Inquisition goes back several centuries. During this time, all of Western Europe used the services of inquisitors specially appointed by the cardinals. Such an ecclesiastical court instilled terror in the minds of people. Those who did not have the sin of spreading heresies among the masses were also in fear.
Who was tried by the Holy Inquisition
The main purpose of the creation of the Inquisition was the struggle of the Church against heretics. In this way, the Catholic community sought to protect itself from harmful heretical teachings that prevent a person from achieving salvation. Over the decades, the trial of heretics developed and the Catholic Church began to undertake torture in the field of judicial inquiry, from which many innocent people suffered.
The inquisitor interrogated a suspected heresy in the presence of several priests. In case of refusal to accept guilt, various tortures were carried out. Sometimes it all ended in death. The favorite execution of the inquisitors was burning alive at the stake. A person spreading heresy was considered a servant of the devil, and everyone, tainted by a connection with demonic forces, had to endure torment not only after death, but also during life. Therefore, the fire of the fire was considered as a punishment. In another interpretation, it was a necessary means of purification.
Starting from the end of the 15th century, the Inquisition began to pay special attention to the fight against witches and sorcerers. It was this time of bonfires and cruel executions of all those who were accused of witchcraft. It should be noted that there were also numerous false denunciations.
In addition to witches and heretics, scientists who expressed their scientific views contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church about the existence of the world could also be subject to trial. History retains the names of many victims of bonfires, condemned for their scientific outlook. In total, more than a million people suffered from the activities of the inquisitors. Inquisitors had the power to burn people at will, blaming heresy, witchcraft, or misconceptions. Only by the 19th century did the Catholic Church move away from such a terrible practice that could have caused innocent people to suffer.
